The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-23
vALLANDIGHAM.
How He Was Received Into the Con-
federate Lines.
from Tie Detroit Free Press

FROM The Detroit Free Press.
One day in May, 1863, as Private S. F.
Nunnelee, of the Fifty first Alabama regi
ment, was on picket about five miles from
Murfreesboro, Tenn, Federal officer. en-
tirely unattended and carrying flag of
truce, rode up and inquired for the officer
in command, and through him for the Colo
mel Of the regiment. Col j. d. Webb was
on the line, q couple of miles to the rear.
. and Private Nunnelee was sent to inform him
that the Federals were DESTROYS of passing
the noted Clement l.. Vallandigham
within the Confederate lines, as Der
order of the Secretary of War. This
move had been anticipated, as Vallandio-
hams sentence had been promulgated, but
the Confederate government had no desire
to accept him Had he come as a recrIit
for the ranks he would have been welcome,
but as banished politician he was a guest
whom no one cared to entertain. Col. Webb
took his time about riding to the front and
as he got there Nunnelee was sent down the
highway to investigate a second white flag.
This was waving above a vehicle drawn by
one horse and occupied by Federal Lieu
tenant and VallandighaIn. The officer was
driving, and the banished politician was
sitting very stiff and erect But few words
passed as the officer drew rein. He said to
Nunnelee:
"Here is vallandigham sentenced to ban
ishment."
And to the great politician he said:
"Come, have no time to spare.n
II protest against this enthusiastically
protest" answered Vallandigham.
"Yes, but hurry up. I'll take your trunk
off. Jump down. now-good day"
And the officer sprang into the vehicle,
turned the horse round, and went off at a
fast trot, leaving Vallandigham and the
1fola 70
way. Previous to the war Mr. Nunnelee
was editor OF a paper at Eutaw, and Vallan-
digham was one of its readers As they
stood there the private soldier introduced
himself and the politician gave him a
hearty shake of the hand and asked:
What on earth are you doing here"
'ln the ranks"
"And are such men as you fighting in the
ranks of the Confederate army a.
Thousands of us"
''Then that settles 1.-THE North can never
conquer you"
After some further talk the soldier carried
the politicians trunk into deserted negro
cabin q quarter of d mile away, and then
went for his Colonel. Webb came slowly
up, and as he dismounted at the hut the
banished Northerner said:
"Col. Webb, am Clement L. Vallandig-
ham, a citizen of Ohio and of the United
States, imprisoned, villified and banished
from my country for my love of liberty and
free speech"
The Colonel stiffiy answered:
"Mr. Vallandigham, as a citizen of Ohio
and the United States, you are my enemy.
As one banished for his love of liberty, for
which the South is fighting to-day, bid you
welcome to the Southern Confederacyn
They then entered into general CONVEX
sation lasting about half an hour, at the end
of which time Private Nunnelee secured
conveyance and Vallandigham and his bag
gage were received inside the Confederate
lines. The incident made quite stir at the
picket post, and could the men have had
their way they would have headed the man
for the Federal lines and obliged him to re-
turn, as they counted far more on musllets
than speeches to win their cause.
Mr.. Nunnelee is now, and has for many
years past been, the editor Of the Tuscaloosa
Gazette, and the incidents of this narrative,
never before published, were taken from his
own Inns